Category: Inside The Mind Of A Book Blogger

Something happened Monday. Something rather confusing and a bit scary.

Since I´m currently suffering from a cold I can´t really be bothered to read or do some much-needed book shopping ( as if I hadn´t already done that a few days ago * sigh * )

So, I used my Monday to sort out my bookshelves and the treasures I found there….you won´t believe it.

At first, I stumbled upon a book I absolutely love. `Easy` by author Tammara Webber. It´s an older book but still…. It´s a Young Adult classic I absolutely adore.

After swooning over that book I saw the same book in the same row, just a few paperbacks away.

Confusing? You bet!

I thought I had finally lost my marbles. I mean- having the flu can cause you to see double. I thought I was seeing double. But then I noticed the differences in the books.

The covers…. they were slightly different. Same book only one with the original cover and the other one with an updated image.

Seriously? I had the same book twice on my bookshelf. How in all that´s pink and fluffy was that even possible? I don´t buy double paperbacks. Not even if I love a book as much as I love `Easy`.

Is this what it´s like when you get old? You become so forgetful and buy stuff double? If that´s case then I´ll stop right here and focus on ebooks only.

This has never happened to me before!

Scary is- I have no clue why I have the same book twice. I remember buying the first paperback. But the second copy? When did that happen? WHEN?!

It´s not signed by the author, so I didn´t get it from a book signing event. The only logical explanation I can come up with is that I lend my original copy to a friend and never got it back so I bought another copy. Since I don´t lend books anymore ( I´m a burnt child ) that can´t be the case, either. This leads me to believe that I´ve finally lost it ( and by “it” I mean my wits).

Who know´s what´ll happen next. All I know is that I´m not prepared for more surprises like this.

Let´s take a moment a celebrate the fact that I´m an old fart who just turned a year older and am now an even older fart.

That´s right. It´s my birthday!

Time for a big celebration. I mean… it´s not like I get to do this everyday, right? It´s either party big or don´t party at all. 36 is a huge deal.

I´m far away from 30 and scooting closer to 40. If that´s not a reason to celebrate then I don´t know what is. (insert sarcasm)

While I should be doing something like this….

I thought it would be more appropriate to engage myself in things 36 year olds do these days.

Something like this…

But no. That´s not going to happen, either, although it does seem like a healthier option for a woman my age.

Instead- I thought I´d take a more practical approach. Lock the door. Turn off the door bell. Unplug the landline. Turn off my phone and vegetate on the sofa in my pj´s and pink fluffy bathrobe, holding a book in one hand and stuffing myself with cheesecake.

So, here´s to my apocalyptic one man / woman birthday party!

Birthday girl!

Wishing you all a fab day filled with all kinds of bookish awesomeness!

When an author starts out the first thing they need is to become a public figure. And what better way to become a name ( with or without a face) than on social media? There is no better way because, believe it or not… Social media is where half of the magic happens. Social media is, also, where an unimaginable amount of people spend a lot of their time.

And when an author is great at mingling with the common foot folk then social media is a blessing.

But have you ever stopped to think for a second about what exactly happens behind the scene´s? Does an author have to use all social media available for exposure? What does an author have to do in order to become known? Question after question….

The ugly truth is- Author´s cannot avoid social media. It´s nearly impossible. If they do try to avoid any social platform then there´s a high chance no one besides family and friends will ever get to read an author´s work.

Here are a few of the many places where author´s can hang out:

Facebook

Twitter

Instagram

Tumblr

LinkedIn

Google+

Personal Blog

Pinterest

Youtube

Meetup

etc.

There isn´t really an end to the profitable social media list. With time, each social media site will celebrate their highs and suffer from lows but that still doesn´t change the fact that they´re still necessary. Author´s need to be where the crowd is, right?

But, where, exactly, is the crowd?

I don´t have an aswer for that question. Rumor has it that it completely depends on the genre. Some say it´s better for a paranormal author to spend all their free time on Facebook, and others say Twitter is the place to be for romance writers.

Many authors swear on Instagram being fully Fantasy, Young Adult/New Adult…..

But that´s just absurd because

There hasn´t been an actual study done on the topic.

Social Media platforms are not bound to genres / books. They´re for everyone.

No one and nothing can support that rumor because it´s different for everyone. Every author, every reader has their own thoughts on what works where.

There´s no true formula on which social platform´s the best.

There are a few author superheroes that make us believe they have it all figured out, though. Maybe they do know a few tricks on how to work social platforms. Maybe they develop 8 arms when the moon hits it´s peak. ( Okay, okay. That was unnecessary. But I often can´t help what pops into my mind.)

Unless an author has a wonderful team of minions who´re willing to help, there´s no way an author is able to be everywhere, at the same time. Aside from the miracle worker authors- I´ve noticed not all authors use every platform available. They use what works for them the most.

Some authors focus on Facebook and Twitter. Some work the Instagram, Tumblr and Pinterest mill.

Some even go through the efforts over at Youtube and upload book trailers, reading sessions, etc. Writers have become creative in alot of ways and it´s often really cool to witness.

My verdict on what social media is the best for authors is:

Everywhere! Meaning: Every platform is a good place for a writer because it doesn´t depend on where the most people are- It depends on which platform an author feels most comfortable with.

If Facebook works for an author- great.

Twitter? Sure!

Instagram? I´m on board with that.

The key isn´t to chase after the crowd. Author´s aren´t door to door salesmen. The key is getting the crowd´s attention.

Which brings me to my next point:

When a writer has their prefered social media platform where they´ve already grown roots.. It´s not wise to think all the work is done. Especially when the love gushing over a certain book has died down ( a painful fact author´s have to come to terms with ).

When the hype is gone, the fan base will cool down. Only a selected few hardcore book activists will stay. What then? Is it time for an author to move on and write something new? Perhaps it´s a better idea to stick with one book and find other ways to promote it? Maybe find more hardcore book activists?

This is where social media can be an author´s best friend.

Every platform is filled with book lovers from all corners of the book world. But what a few aren´t aware of is that Facebook and Co. are also filled with book clubs, book / author groups that offer wonderful extra´s for author´s and readers. Book people like to hide in groups where they can share their latest reads with fellow readers.

Let´s say the hype for an author´s book has died down. Comments slow down. Likes vanish. All the people who have been super supportive have disappeared into thin air. ( Don´t believe it doesn´t happen. It does. Every. Damn. Time. ) It´s a crucial moment. Even devastating because an author depends on likes, follows, shares, etc. Once the interaction slows or stops it can make authors doubt themselves and their abilities.

When that happens it´s time to take the next step. It doesn´t matter which step. It´s the action that matters. Preferably immediately. If an author doesn´t take matters into their own hands then no one else will.

No matter how many blogs support a writer with posts and graphic quotes or honorable mentions…. Blogs and fans don´t own the author´s work, therefore, their hands are tied.

Of course, there are author´s who depend on blogs and fans to do all the dirty work promotion but that´s a different bedtime story for another night.

Author´s who want exposure and want their names to stay in people´s minds need to stay in the picture.

You cannot imagine how often I´ve seen certain books on social media. Sometimes it´s annoying when I see the same book over and over again ( especially after I´ve read it ) But that´s not the point. It´s the fact that the book is still around… even a year after publication date. Why is that?

Because author´s use their tools. They don´t fully rely on others to get the job done. They´re always on the look-out for new groups and games they can participate in so they can introduce their book to new readers. They collide with other authors.

They make it look like they never sleep.

It all ALWAYS boils down to the same point. Work the self-marketing mill as if it were your religion.

Social media is a warped place but it CAN be very useful for authors if they use their platforms well.

Get to know your social platforms. Learn to use them.

NOTE: This doesn´t just apply to authors. This article can be very helpful for book bloggers as well.

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